Abn_Ranger87

MikeyD, tracers from small arms and machine guns are not "dots of light" in real life. Because the human eye cannot follow at such speed they appear to be a solid line of light, kinda like a hollywood laser. Because they are so efficient at letting the enemy know your location, use of such ammunition by riflemen is very rare (as the old Murphy's laws of combat state, tracers work both ways...) Matter of fact, in the US Army only SAW and M60 gunners (now M240) use tracers, mainly because belted ammunition comes with it... There are some practical uses for tracers, enabling team leaders to mark areas for their men to focus their fire on for example. I have been in units where the SOP for having your support shift fires from an objective was a couple bursts of all tracers at a 45 degree angle. Worked better than a lot of other techniques because the darn things were so noticable.

I would like to see the role of TRPs expanded to be more realistic and useful. Prior to any sort of action, even the most dense of butter-bars will at least look at his map and pre-plot grids to key terrain and likely enemy locations. I can't believe the CO of a combined arms team wouldn't do the same and provide a fire plan before conducting a movement to contact (ie. meeting engagement...) We should be able to get a few TRPs in every situation, regardless of side or mission. On-map mortars are crippled by the neccesity of being babysat by a HQ element in order to perform their mission of providing INDIRECT fire support and the suppression of suspected enemy positions, the availability of TRPs would offset this tremendously. While on the subject of mortars. In real life, a good section with LOS can drop round one in your lap and can practically choose which testical they wish to remove. Once registered, the same team can easily put a round onto a 10 digit grid coordinate (within 1 meter) anywhere within the range of their system. Now, how about modeling this ability by... say... having a mortar considered to be registered if they haven't moved for 10 turns?

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by PondScum: [QB] Gaminess update: I am evil, as Abn_Ranger is finding to his cost. Turn 1: we run at each other headlong. My Pak-o-death sits hidden on top of a commanding height, with LOS to the entire battlefield. Turn 2: our infantry begins some serious mutual mauling, while the gamey bastage's artillery starts firing blind on my Pak-o-death's hiding place. "Hope you didn't have anything important on that nice hilltop" he gloats. Turn 3: "You mean the hilltop that you're shelling while the real battle is elsewhere?" I reply. He falls for it, stops his artillery, my Pak-o-death reveals itself, and lo, there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth and exploding amongst his armor. Life is good. And did I mention that my artillery-free Fallschirmgirbils eviscerated his point platoon? Life is good. [QB]<hr></blockquote> It seems my unseemly sheen of fishy refuse on a puddle opponent has vastly out-stated his early successes. His Pak was conveniently placed in the most obvious spot on the map and came out of hiding to abuse a poor little Daimler. Temporarily lifting a bombardment of suspected enemy positions is a very useful technique that will cause the overconfident to rise up and spew AT round after AT round in an attempt to plow the local farmer's field for them. As far as his crunchies go... well now that I know he has Deutch paras playing in the woods... My trusty engineers have suffered but a single casualty to their sputtering, un-coordinated efforts. FTs will be livening up the scene momentarily with his Jaegermeister soaked boys giving great impression of match-heads...

Hope no delays come up, it would be bad form for CMBB to come out right before my wedding. Would be an awkward honeymoon to say the least... "but dear, I need to bring the lap-top with me..." :eek:

What about how quickly the Sovs were able to shift their best formations East after the fall of Berlin and conduct a spectacularly successfull attack on the Japanese held territorys... Ah, nevermind Barbossa to Berlin doesn't exactly cover that period of time...

ASL veteran, After spending 15 years in the Infantry, I am quite aware of how trench lines are layed out You are absolutely correct about the "doglegs" used to prevent enfilading fire. However, the stretches between these turns can be anywhere from 5-50 meters in length depending on national SOP. As a corporal, I led a dismounted team during the clearing of a defensive line being manned by the Iraqi 53rd mechanized brigade (was with 2nd ACR, we only needed to secure the immediate area around the breach to facilitate the crossing of our regimental service squadron ie. RPG range, follow on forces finished the job...) Their trenches were about 25 meters to a leg and incorporated strongpoints with crew served systems at the junctures. Hull down positions for their vehicles were about 50 meters back from the MLD with connecting communication trenches. Thankfully, our blue-suit friends in their magnificent flying machines worked them over quite well before we attacked, and our supporting M1a1s and Bradleys proved quite adept at maintaining direct fire on the uncleared sections. The technique used for entry was rolling our Bradleys two abreast up to the line and dropping the ramps while the gunners maintained surpressive fire. Two more squads followed on once the foothold was established and we pushed out about 200m each direction. Like I said, we didn't have to hold for long. Took only about 20 minutes for the RSS to cross after we gave the word. We then retrograded back to the breach point and mounted up. Casualtys were negligable (one troop broke his ankle jumping in, and another got fragments into his side when he incorrectly "cooked" off a grenade...) but our opponents really had the the fight knocked out of them by the heavy stuff before we went in so...to be honest I'm glad about that...

Hmm... My question has to do with clearing said trenches. If an assault element gains a foothold in said excavation, will they (and the defenders) have an increased chance to hit targets within a linear section? Are grenades going to have an increased effect when tossed into them? Also, will the tac-AI make use of them to move from one part of a defensive network to another without being micro-managed?.

I would like to see the inclusion of flares (ground or aerial), if, the employment of them is realistically modeled. In my experience (mortar & M203 fired parachute flares, mechanical trip-flares, and aerial flares from AC-130s) the positioning of these assets is key to their usefullness. If popped behind friendlys they will blind and disorient the enemy and make him stand out quite well as you could imagine, the opposite is true if their sent to your 12 o'clock, the OPFOR gains the advantage. When used directly overhead both sides have an equal benefit. Trip flares are effective in the defense because they let your crew served systems know were to concentrate their grazing fire. One thing about the indirect launched and airdropped models, while their decending shadows move all over the place giving the false impression of movement. Jumpy troops will waste ammunition and give away their position firing at these "ghosts." I won't even go into the havoc they cause with NODs (night vision devices for the uninitiated...) Use of flares is usually part of the unit's fireplan must be carefully employed. Maybe giving onboard mortars the ability to fire illumination rounds like they now do smoke would be the best method of including flares in CMBB. Oh, maybe their incendiary qualitys should be modeled as well. I've accidentally burned down a GP Large tent with a white star parachute from an M-203 during a training exercise. Was just lighting up the OBJ and the chute portion failed for whatever reason...

I would like to see the inclusion of flares (ground or aerial), if, the employment of them is realistically modeled. In my experience (mortar & M203 fired parachute flares, mechanical trip-flares, and aerial flares from AC-130s) the positioning of these assets is key to their usefullness. If popped behind friendlys they will blind and disorient the enemy and make him stand out quite well as you could imagine, the opposite is true if their sent to your 12 o'clock, the OPFOR gains the advantage. When used directly overhead both sides have an equal benefit. Trip flares are effective in the defense because they let your crew served systems know were to concentrate their grazing fire. One thing about the indirect launched and airdropped models, while their decending shadows move all over the place giving the false impression of movement. Jumpy troops will waste ammunition and give away their position firing at these "ghosts." I won't even go into the havoc they cause with NODs (night vision devices for the uninitiated...) Use of flares is usually part of the unit's fireplan must be carefully employed. Maybe giving onboard mortars the ability to fire illumination rounds like they now do smoke would be the best method of including flares in CMBB.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Hiram Sedai: [QB]Last night was quite fulfilling. Graphic descriptions of the inner workings...<hr></blockquote> Congratulations on the new addition to your family. Now you can safely venture down the pink aisle in the toy store without feeling odd... Take heart in knowing that I have seen the most hard-corps of personnel laid low with horror when confronted with the inner workings of the female body. I had the "pleasure" of assisting in the birthing process involving a native in the rear of a HMMWV during a rotation to Haiti (always felt sorry for the poor PFC who had to clean up the mess.) I believe the Army is quite negligent when instructing it's medics and combat lifesavers when it comes to this issue. Needless to say, when it comes time for my own children to be born I will hold my betrothed's hand, but will not venture south of the sheet...

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by PondScum: [QB]The pool has too much whining, and not enough CHALLENGING. How are we SSNs supposed to improve ourselves when all our "role" "models" (ahem) are busy crying, mewling, puking, and PLAYING OTHER GAMES <hr></blockquote> While I agree with the basic substance (composed, I'm sure, while you were under the influence of sort of illegal substance...) of your ranting, I find the presentation similar to the infantile mewling one hears from those privates who find themselves assigned the glorious role of Lawn Mower Patrol after showing up late for morning formation. As long as you refrain from such simpering refrains, I would be more than pleased to administer some corporal punishment on the digital field of honor. Consider yourself challenged dear PondScum and may higher powers have mercy on you flourescent yellow, microbe infested soul, for I will not...

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MikeyD: [QB]Was it an aluminum engine or a magnesium engine? I have a vague recollection of some Soviet tank with a light alloy engine block to save weight. might be thinking T54 instead of T34. <hr></blockquote> Your thinking of modern Soviet tanks. The T-54/55, T-62, T-64, and even the T-72 incorporated a lightweight magnesium engine. Practice was discontinued after such material was found to contribute greatly to said vehicles being catastophically destroyed after being hit.

On the subject of captured equipment. I have read and listened to (being a member of the VFW has it's rewards...) accounts of American troops utilizing German armament. Problem with using such systems is that friendlys are usually quite aware of the differing signatures produced by enemy weapons and would be quick to pour surpressive fire into your area before checking to see the operator's nationality, so their employment would be a risky affair...

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Joe Shaw: [QB]Abnormal Stranger 87 (hmmm, likely either his age or IQ)<hr></blockquote> Actually the digits in question refer to the year of my rebirth amidst the crumbling shacks in the Harmony Church area on Fort Benning... Now if we have finished exchanging pleasantrys, (or what passes as such amongst the uncouth...) I shall put forth a request for an opponent to inflict casualtys upon. A meeting engagement perhaps...

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>I see that Abnormal Stranger has posted ... how nice ... he should note, however, that while he has provided a general location in his profile he has no email and therefore we're not going to acknowledge him until he does because if he doesn't he can't challenge some other SSN or squire to a game which is pretty much the whole reason for being here in the first place since this IS the Peng Challenge Thread and the operative word is Challenge so he'd best post an email so that necessity can be met ... okay. Joe[/QB]<hr></blockquote> Whilst you were busy tapping away above response on your keyboard, the email in the profile thing was in the process of being rectified...